5 Hobbies That Can Improve Your Health, From Gardening To Knitting

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has called on GPs to increase "social prescribing" of hobbies.

Taking time out to enjoy a hobby could improve your health, research suggests, which is why Matt Hancock is encouraging GPs to increase “social prescribing”.

Research from NHS pilot schemes around the country has found areas where GPs advised patients to take up hobbies such as gardening and dancing appear to have healthier populations, with A&E visits reduced by 25%.

“The evidence increasingly shows activities like social clubs, art, ballroom dancing and gardening can be more effective than medicines for some people and I want to see an increase in that sort of social prescribing,” the Health Secretary said.

But you don’t have to wait for a GP prescription to start a new hobby that could improve your health and wellbeing. Here are five ideas to get you on your way.

Gardening

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Gardening can help improve our mood and even help to combat stress, anxiety and depression, according to a study commissioned by Gardener’s World. The research found that 80% of gardeners feel satisfied with their lives compared with 67% for non-gardeners, and 93% of gardeners think gardening improves their mood. And let’s not forget, a spot of weeding can be quite a workout.

Mat Rosendale, from London Fire Brigade, told HuffPost UK gardening on the rooftop of Brixton Fire Station helps him cope with the stresses of the job. “That 10 minutes sat quietly in the garden helps me to recharge my batteries and clear my thoughts,” he said. “It gets me through the day.”

Knitting

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Last year a review of previous studies conducted by the charity Knit for Peace found the hobby had been linked to a huge list of health benefits, including reducing depression and anxiety, distracting from chronic pain, and increasing a sense of wellbeing.

One case study, named in the report as Sarah R, described how knitting helped her to stop smoking and lose weight. “[It] keeps hands busy, so I’m not snacking in the evenings when watching TV. I dropped two dress sizes in my first year of knitting. It was also a useful aid in helping to stop me smoking and I think knitting would help more addictions generally,” she said.

Dancing

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Whether you’re at a traditional ballet class or doing the Macarena in your kitchen, dance is a great cardio workout that can improve your heart health and give you a dose of mood-enhancing endorphins. But it could also help to improve your brain function, due to the fact it requires you to memorise steps.

As part of Michael Mosley’s BBC show ‘The Truth About Getting Fit’, a team of researchers tested this theory by asking a group of salsa dancers to complete a series of mental tests to analyse their base level of intelligence and reflexes.

They then completed the tests again after a 30-minute dance class and their working memory scores improved by 18%. The scientists noted that they hadn’t seen a result like this for any other type of exercise, including running.

Journaling

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Spending 20 minutes a day jotting down positive experiences and thoughts - “anything from being moved by a good book, painting or piece of music, to falling in love” - may be enough to decrease stress levels, according to a study from Northumbria University.

If you’re feeling extra crafty, you could try your hand at bullet journalling, like HuffPost reporter Amy Packham. “Bullet journalling is great for organising, it’s great to plan ahead and get your head sorted on daily tasks you have to get done,” she wrote in a blog. “But for me, it’s so much more than that. It’s a place to self-reflect, to create, to be mindful and to completely switch off.”

Cooking

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Instead of throwing a quick dinner in the oven, taking time out to plan meals and make cooking a hobby could not only help you buy healthier ingredients, but also boost your mood, especially if you’re cooking for other people.